Evangelization Resources

  
 

• Alpha for Catholics - Series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. 

• Formed.org - FORMED On Demand is a subscription service offering access to thousands of studies, films, audios, and ebooks. Discover great digital media from over 40 of the best Catholic content producers including the Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, the USCCB, Catholic Answers, EWTN, St. Paul Center, Marian Press, Sophia Press, Knights of Columbus, FOCUS, and many more.

• Dynamic Catholic - The mission of Dynamic Catholic is to To re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.

• Christlife.org - Equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization through the ChristLife process: Discovering Christ, Following Christ, and Sharing Christ.

• Evangelization.com - Ascension Press - Built to Enhance the Small-Group Experience.

• Paulist Evangelization - Helps Catholics with programs to share their faith, to reach out to seekers and those who are disconnected.

• Amazing Parish - Seeks to revitalize the church by equipping her pastors and leaders with the training, resources and support they need to create vibrant and thriving parishes.

• Rebuilt Parish - Draws on the wisdom gleaned from thriving mega-churches and innovative business leaders while anchoring this vision in the Eucharistic center of Catholic faith.

• RENEW International - Fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action. 

• The Catholic Apostolate Center has a website in Spanish www.centrodelaapostoladocatolico.org. A page devoted entirely to the Blessed Mother. The Portal de la Virgen Maria features resources in Spanish from Pope Francis as well as articles, devotions, and other items  from various sources.   www.centrodelapostoladocatolico.org/portal-de-la-virgen-mariacutea.html

• Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States (English/Español)
• Disciples Called to Witness: A Statement by the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis (English/Español)
• The Intellectual Tasks of the New Evangelization
• The New Evangelization and Social Justice
• The  New Evangelization: Disciples on Mission in the World

A retreat can be defined in the most simplest of terms as a definite time (from a few hours in length to a month) spent away from one's normal life for the purpose of reconnecting, usually in prayer, with God. The following retreat opportunities are available throughout our diocese:

• ACTS Retreats - An ACTS retreat is a three-day and three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners. The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community. Retreats for men, women and teens are given separately. Talks and activities during the retreat focus on Adoration, Community, Theology and Service, from which the ACTS acronym is derived.

• TEC Retreat - TEC starts as a three-day retreat centered on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, and then welcomes you into a greater community focused on living our Catholic-Christian faith daily. TEC of Central Texas is a weekend of prayer, reflections/talks, group discussions, personal reflections, recreation, live music and activities. Sharing, getting to know those around you and participation activities are important aspects of the weekend.

• Cursillo - Cursillo is a movement of the Catholic Church that promotes Catholic ideals, fellowship and spiritual growth in daily living. It provides an opportunity to deepen your Catholic faith and to experience the love of God within a supportive and prayerful community. The Cursillo is a method of giving those, who have the potential of influencing others, a personal encounter with Christ and the means to further enhance, support and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelizing their environments.

• Light of the World -  Light of the World Evangelization Ministries (LOTWEM) brings a powerful plan for evangelization and renewal to your Catholic parish -- it's a comprehensive process. It begins with the kerygmatic Light of the World Retreat, which is designed for all adults 18 years and older. After this Catholic retreat, the process continues with Small Faith Communities, and it extends into all the areas of your parish.

• Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center - Many spiritual retreats are offered throughout the year at our diocesan retreat center. 

Spiritual Formation and Catechesis for Adults

In addition to meeting the certification needs of catechists, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis supports the ongoing spiritual formation of Catholic adults throughout the Diocese by opening its course offerings to all who wish to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teachings and in so doing, become better equipped for Christian discipleship and evangelization in a variety of settings. This intentional change in scope is a service to parishes and individuals who currently might not have these resources available to them. While some of the courses listed below are primarily for catechists, many of them are general enough to offer content useful to any Catholic adult.

Serving Remote Locations, Multiple Languages    

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis will continue to offer a limited number of courses in remote locations throughout the Diocese, via the online technology of Google Hangout, which offers the benefits of live instruction and communal learning in multiple locations (pending). These sites accommodate an optimal number of 10-15 students. 

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis also seeks to provide guidance on the following topics:

To gain access to this page please contact Maryrae Stein at (512) 949-2469 or email maryrae-stein@austindiocese.org